5.1 The Background

... ethnic groups have markedly different ideas about the value of education; ideas which have to do more with the culture of the country from which they migrated, rather than their status as 'migrants' in Australia (Department of Employment, Education, and Training, 1987, - 40)

The educational achievements of Maltese youths will be reviewed in this chapter. On the one hand, some reports (Bullivant 1986, Mistilis 1986, Williams 1987) suggest that youths of ethnic origin are doing as well as, if not better than the average Australian youth, while on the other hand data, including personal experience as well as data from a the literacy rat-recent censuses (1981, 1986) and other reports (Meade 1983, Taft & Cahill 1978, Gauci 1983, Sant Cassia 1983) indicate that the reverse is the case.

To understand the motivation of Maltese youths, both those born in familiarity with the education background and achievement of parents, which influences educational expectations of both parents and children. A comparison between educational levels reached by students of Maltese origin in Australia and in the home country would be of interest. This will serve as a backdrop against which to compare educational achievement in Australia. It would also answer the question: Are Maltese youths in Malta doing any better than those in Australia?

Source: Maurice N. Cauchi - Maltese Migrants in Australia, Malta 1990

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